THE PRELUDE - THE ASIAN TSUNAMI
The images and pictures kept reappearing in my dreams throughtout the night of 30th December, 2004. That was when I first heard and saw the Southeast Asian Tsunami destructions. The devastation was unimaginable. Every time you think you have witnessed the worst of these natural catastrophes, a much more terrible one presents itself, making you realize that the saga seems endless. Na wao, while some people are busy preparing to usher in the New Year 2005 with much merriments and anticipation, others are going to start off on such a very bad note, not out of a fault of their own or not out of choice. Well, if the calamities keep reoccurring, subjecting man to endless suffering, then mankind’s response to these calamities should also be total and have no limit.
THE MEDIA HYPE
The month of January 2005 was constantly filled with more and more information about the Asian Tsunami, so much so, almost every mouth that can pronounce the word, from an 8 month old to the barely audible adult due to old age or sickness made mention of it, even if it is just once. By 26th January, exactly a month from the day the incidence happened, one newspaper reported that thus far, the word "TSUNAMI" has been written or mentioned on various media that they were able to monitor almost 95,000 times. My own mention of the situation on my Hausa enlightenment programme Muhalli, Rayuwa sponsored by National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) was running into its third week. Yet, few people know exactly what was going on or what the word means. In fact, out on the streets of the old ancient city of Kano, it was business as usual.
HOW IT ALL STARTED
The morning of 5th February came with it, some more news from one of the many local FM radio stations about the Tsunami situation. I was busy on my PC, which is located in our bedroom. As the newscaster caught my attention with yet another heart wrenching information about the disaster, I couldn’t help but stop what I was doing and listen. My wife Bilkiss Usman Abubakar, who was with me and folding some clothes, was saying something, but I couldn’t hear a word, for I was lost in thought. Thinking to myself "Is this how this one will also come and go? So we are not going to do anything about it as usual? What a shame!" Realizing that I was not listening to her "What is it?!" my wife asked me worriedly "It’s this Tsunami thing, you know, that just happened in the Southeast Asia. Wallahi, so much damage has been done, yet you’ll see nobody is going to care" Then it occurred to her what I was pondering over "Oh, ok about that the water waves in the Pacific ocean, I was watching it on TV last night, it is terrible" I couldn’t help but burst out "Yes, that’s it. That’s all we are ever going to say about it. Why can’t we be like others, who are, right this moment, thinking about what to do, rushing over to help those poor souls that have been affected?"
She kept quite for a few second, then she said "You know people are not alike, while some are disturbed about it, others are thinking it sheer entertainment, I mean they are enjoying themselves just sitting down and watching as the drama unfold" I turned sharply and expressed deeply "Then it’s sad and most unfortunate" Seeing the pain in my eyes my wife said "Why don’t you do something about it?" I was dumbfounded "Me, what can I do about this?" She smiled and said "I thought you are a radio presenter. Can’t you call people’s attention to the Tsunami crisis in one of your programmes,Muhalli, Rayuwa or Top 10 @ 10 for example?"
"DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT!"
"Well it is better than just sitting down doing nothing about it, you know" I agreed with her and while looking her straight in the eye I continued "In fact I’m going to do better than that" I said excitedly "I have an idea" as I jumped up and head for the ensuite bathroom to run my bath. She smiled and followed me into the bathroom "What are you going to do?" As I turned on the tap I said "Our problem in this country has always been not doing anything about our ideas, do you know that every Nigerian knows exactly what the problems bedeviling our country are and in fact almost everybody has one form of answer or the other to these problems and believe me if they can be followed up and sincerely implemented, most of our headaches will be over. But you know what?" I asked her not expecting an answer "We don’t usually take the next step, that crucial, most important step, to DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT, but baby, not this time" She smiled some more and queried "So, what’s on your mind?"
THE LIST
"First and foremost I’m going to do as you advised that is wake up people’s conscience about the Tsunami saga, not just on Muhalli Rayuwa, but also on the Top 10 @ 10 as well as SWS Symphonyk Vibes and also SMS4U. And you know what, it is the youths that should do this, so I’m going to call on those listeners burstling with optimism and full of energy that keep calling and sending us GSM text messages on Freedom Radio. Guys like Salihu Tanko Yakasai, Nasiru Sa’idu Adhama, Kabiru Danladi Lakebs, Aisha Kabir Ahmad, Sumayya Haruna, Safiyya Abba Abubakar etc. Hey! give me a sheet of paper, let me make a list. Wallahi, I’ll call on them live on air and challenge them. Let’s see if they are for real" She went to the computer table and tore out a piece of paper from the jotter bunch "Aahto, let see how serious they can be if faced with some real challenge" she said as she gave me a pencil as well.
So I made a list of about 12 persons, some of my colleagues on the station inclusive. "Watch out" I warned, "some guys might not be too forth coming on the project. Most of them would want to be personally approached and invited before they will agree to participate and even then, you’ll see, they might drag their feet about the issue, you know ‘Jan aji’. But one thing I’m going to do is to meet them each one on one and talk to them about it, if that’s what it will take to get some positive response from them. After that, any of them who still choose to abstain, at least I’ve given them their dues"
THE IDEA
"Now here’s my idea. What do think if we can gather some young people and form a group that will go into town and approach individuals, companies, corporate organizations, government parastatals international agencies and solicit for financial assistance on behalf of the Tsunami victims?" She looked up at the ceiling for a moment, reflecting on what I’ve just laid out and after a while she added "Hmmn it’s a good idea, and you know there are quite a number of people who will donate" I was excited by her positive response and quickly said "Guess how much we are going to ask for when we eventually approach these various people and places?" Looking curious she responded "How much?" I replied "One Kwandala!" with all seriousness "Habba dai, you mean One Naira?" She exclaimed, wanting to confirm, "Yes, that’s the minimum and I don’t think that would be beyond anyone?"
"JUST N1:00?" (ONE KWANDALA)
She smiled, obviously she liked it "and if you’re given a million?" there was a thrill in the way she called the million "All the better and you know a lot of people would definitely end up giving us more the a Kwandala" my voice was marching hers with the excitement "How about if someone should give you guys just N1:00?" She enquired quite seriously "That’s our minimum. It is the spirit of giving that matters not the amount given, my dear. So what do you think?" I said with conviction "I don’t think. I believe it will work, but the problem is who will go along with you on this?" I raised the list up and turned the names on it at her, not saying anything. She nodded her head with a smile "And can you imagine," I continued "if we can get every Nigerian to donate one kwandala, it means, assuming we are about 120-150 million, we would generate about N150, 000, 000: 00 which can be something for the poor souls out there in the Pacific region"
SOBER REFLECTION
She nodded in agreement and added "Besides, there are many of our people that are willing to donate just a coin or a little bit more than that, how do you expect such a person to transport himself or herself to the bank and donate to the Tsunami Account?" In response I asked her "How many of our people have ever been to the bank, talk less of transacting business there? I don’t know. But if we can save people the trouble by reaching out to them and collect their donations and then transfer the amount to the authorities responsible for the Fund, then we would have done our own small part"
We were both sober and serious now from realization of the enormity of the task ahead. My wife looked me straight in the eye. Knowing me, she said, "You can’t do this alone, Abusaleem" I shook my head and responded "Who said I’m going to do this alone" as I waved the list at her once again, "I’ve got me these guys and tonight, we are going to give them a "Shout Out!" and together we’ll give it a shot. That Inyene too is going to be surprised tonight, for I’m going to drag him on air for us to do the sensitizing thing together. I wonder how much he knows about this Tsunami crisis?"
THE "KWANDALA 4 TSUNAMI" CALL
Thursday February 3rd, 2005
The Kwandala Foundation started on Thursday 3rd February, 2005 on the airwaves of Freedom Radio, Muryar Jama’a, a young, daring, innovative and unconventional FM radio station situated in the industrial area of Sharada Phase I, Kano State, Nigeria.
SWS.Comms TOP 10 @ 10
On one of its most listened to musical programmes, the popular SWS.Comms TOP 10 @ 10 independently produced and presented by the ace multi-media production company Soundword & Sight Communications Nigeria Limited. The regular host of the musical programme Tijjani Muhammad Musa, disturbed by the now regular Tsunami Breaking News, instead of presenting the conventional weekly musical countdown, decided to do something different. He invited the producer of the programme Mr. Inyene James Ibanga to join him in a duet presentation, in order to touch on the conscience of the people in the old ancient city of Kano. By alerting them about the terrible situation then unfolding in the Southeast Pacific region, where the Tsunami water waves has caused one of the most devastating havocs in recent history, thus waking them up to their responsibility of coming to the aid of the victims.
It was while describing the graphic images of the Asian Tsunami being splashed on the local electronic, print and international media outfits etc and addressing the very possibility of this unprecedented development coming to pass just like many others without a care by the people, that the versatile presenter challenged the youths in the society to do something about it. The duo broadcasters started toying with the idea of generating some financial assistance by youths in Kano, for onward transfer to the United Nations to demonstrate their concern about the predicament of the Tsunami victims.
In the course of the presentation, "Teejay" as the seasoned Top 10 @ 10 anchor is famously known, dropped the idea of a group of young people going about town and soliciting for a minimum of one Naira coin from all willing donors. Visiting individuals, corporate organizations, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO), Government Parastatals, International Agencies etc, he explained further that if all Nigerians could be reached and at least only one coin or Kwandala (N1:00) as it is called in Hausa, the language of the locals, is collected from them, it means about N150, 000.00 (One Hundred and Fifty Million Naira) could be generated, which might do quite some good to the Tsunami regions. He pleaded for some youth organizations or groups to look at the possibility of working on the proposal.
THE NAME
Making sure the message sank in on the listeners, Teejay inquired from Stainless J. (Inyene) which name to call the project and went ahead to suggest like Tsunami SOS Fund, Tsunami Appeal Fund, Kwandala 4 Tsunami, One 4 Tsunami and Naija Cares. His co-presenter also further suggested some other names, but both finally zeroed in on the "KWANDALA 4 TSUNAMI" for its uniqueness and catchiness. And what it means is people should please give at least one Naira coin to a fund for Tsunami victims. Being an interactive programme, the duo invited listeners to make contributions and also suggest names of their own for the project.
THE INVITATION
Confirming the fact that the listeners interest have been excited enough, the presenters then invited by name certain persons who are regular contributors on the phoned in or SMS text message segments of many of the station programmes. Salihu Tanko Yakasai, Nasiru Sa’idu Adhama, Kabiru Danladi Lakebs, Safiyya Abba Abubakar, Aisha Kabir Ahmad, Sumayya Haruna and a host of others were all requested to come to FREEDOM HOUSE for a maiden meeting on Saturday 5th February 2005 by 12:00 noon. Of course other presentation crewmembers of the Freedom Radio were also invited. Among them was Ahmed Rufa’i Bello (R.B. Jr.) Zakari Yusuf (Z.Y.), Joe Ohue, Maryam Dalhatu, Asma’u Dalhatu, Samira Sulaiman and even Khadijah Sunusi Kabir who was in far away Saudi Arabia on pilgrimage at the time was summoned.
THE NGO "Thing"
The first caller was Kumar from Sallari Quarters, who said what the presenters are doing is a humanitarian cause and it could be turned into an NGO with a lot of people showing their support. Inyene, after agreeing with him invited the caller to a brainstorming session at Freedom House the following Saturday by 12:00 noon. Some listeners Jazeenah, Sumayyah Haruna, Aisha Aminu, Kayode Salami etc all sent in GSM text messages to say this is one of the best programmes they have heard on the radio and expressed their full support. While Salihu Tanko Yakasai, a popular public commentator on radio, who was listening at the time phoned in to suggest "Kwandala Ga Tsunami" as a possible name for the project and promised to be at the scheduled meeting.
THE MAIDEN MEETING
Saturday February 5th, 2005
On Saturday 5th February 2005, we were actually prepared for a full house, but only a hand full of those who promised to come actually did. In fact, by 1:45p.m. only Salihu Tanko Yakasai was present. After a brief discussion, he excused himself as he was bound for a trip to Abuja. Eventually AbdulRahman Baffa Yola, Adamu Danjuma B/Wapa, Kassim Usman Bichi, Shitu AbdulKadir, Abdullahi King Hussain, Bashir Aliyu Muhammad,Kabiru Danladi Lakebs, Inyene Ibanga and I were the only ones around. Now that is the usual, not the unusual. If the turn up had been any better, it would have been surprising. This is because we are all coming from a State Of Inaction, where people only talk and talk, when it actually comes to taking action, everybody freezes and eventually disappears one by one.
Commencement
The meeting commenced at about 2:30 p.m. within the premises of the FM station. Tijjani Muhammad Musa as the convener was nominated to be Chairman of the meeting, while Inyene Ibanga automatically took up the duty of the Secretary. The attendance was vibrant with almost every body opening up and contributing one thing or the other. Another unique thing is the fact that most of the persons present were meeting each other for the very first time. So they engaged in formal introduction, after which all loosen up. While conducting business, Safiyya Abba Abubakar called on line to apologies for her absence due to examinations at Bayero University Kano and Sumayya Haruna too called to excuse herself due to a crucial engagement. However they both independently expressed their full support and intention to participate.
The attendance was minimal quite all right, but instead of dampening the determination of the now Founder and Co-Founders, what that did was to challenge them and without a waste of time, another meeting was scheduled for Wednesday, 9th February 2005 by 8:00p.m at the same venue. This is the day when another independent SWSComms programme "SWS Symphonyk Vibes" takes place on the airwaves of Freedom Radio with Ibrahim Ubale Ajingi (IUA), one of the station’s favourite radio presenters hosting. And because this production is specially meant for the youths, it was planned to feature all persons who attend this meeting, who would air their views on the Asian Tsunami crisis during the session, to further sensitize the whole population about rising up to the challenge.
THE 2ND MEETING
Wednesday February 9th, 2005
On the scheduled date, there were more people in attendance. Nasiru Sa’idu Adhama, Muhammad Ramalan, Muhammad Tijjani, Haruna Muhammad, Abdullahi Kwalwa who was unaware of the developments but came to feature as a resource person on the programme with IUA was invited to join the meeting, and a young lawyer Morris Bello Magaji added to the list earlier mentioned. In the ensuing meeting, the importance of officially registering the group as an NGO was laid bare for all. Also the information that the group cannot go ahead with their solicitation efforts without first registering with the National Tsunami Relief Committee (NTRC) set up by President Olusegun Obasanjo was tabled. Others in the attendance were of the opinion that the group should not waste its time soliciting for any money but should just act as enlightenment team, complementing the efforts of Kano State Governor Malam Ibrahim Shekarau, who incidentally was the Chairman, Publicity Sub-Committee of the above named Tsunami Fund.
PESSIMISM MEETS OPTIMISM
Realizing that some persons at the meeting were beginning to build up a negative attitude about the project, the Initiator confidently informed that it is not for anybody to approve or disapprove the intentions of the group and besides for any who holds a pessimistic opinion about the Tsunami solicitation, such person is at liberty to withdraw before the journey really takes off. He noted further that leaving everything to the government has never been, is not and will never be good enough. We of the private sector must come onto the scene and contribute our own quota in any situation. Some positive minded persons in attendance could not agree more and gave their full support to the Founder. They opined that what ever it takes to give the group’s aim and objectives the chance to come into fruition must be pursued without any delay.
THE KWANDALA FOUNDATION, FOUND.
It was during this meeting that some persons observed that, right now the project is for the Tsunami victims, but what would happen to the group if the Tsunami project should come to an end? Is the gathering going disband or what? The Initiator informed that there is a plan to transform the group into an NGO after the Tsunami project, since there are a lot of problems in the local scene that would need similar attention from the group. So most likely those issues would also be taken up in the form of “Kwandala 4……” projects. So it was thus agreed that the group should be turned into a association and so Tijjani further proposed the name “Kwandala Foundation”, which was unanimously adopted.
Thus THE KWANDALA FOUNDATION was born.
Unfortunately, the programme could not hold that night because the commercial division of the station has sold out the hour. So the attendance undaunted, postponed all plans to the next day Thursday 10th February 2005 by 10:00 p.m. during Teejay’s SWS.Comms Top 10 @ 10 programme, in which the Tsunami issue and the “Kwandala 4 Tsunami” project was first mentioned the week before.
THE 3RD MEETING
Thursday 10th February, 2005
10 on TOP 10 @ 10 – The Dye Is Cast
The members of the group gathered as scheduled the next night and by 10:00 p.m. Tijjani was on air on yet another edition of SWS.Comms Top 10 @ 10 with Inyene producing on Freedom Radio 99.5 FM and without much ado, he featured 10 persons, 2 at a time. The purpose was to send out a wake up call to all well meaning, compassionate souls in the old ancient historic city of Kano and environs to come to the aid of the Tsunami victims out there in Southeast Asia. It all started with the duo of Kassim Usman Bichi/Adamu Danjuma B/Wapa, followed by Abdallah King Hussain/Haruna Muhammad who spoke in Hausa language to effectively acquaint most of the station listeners about what our mission is. Then Salihu Tanko Yakasai/Nasiru Sa’idu Adhama, Nuhu S. I. Umar/Morris B. Magaji, and lastly AbdulRahman B. Yola/Shitu AbdulKadir came on in turn and all spoke in English till the message was delivered. And by the time the programme was complete, the aim of the group was fully achieved as far as sensitizing the people is concerned. From that moment on the whole town was just waiting for the “Kwandala 4 Tsunami” Project.
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